Automatically firing weapon

ABSTRACT

An automatically firing weapon, in particular for caseless ammunition, which has an improved hit probability so that a saving of ammunition is possible. For that purpose the weapon ( 10 ) is linearly movably guided in a housing ( 12 ) in the axial longitudinal direction of the weapon so that during a burst of firing, the weapon ( 10 ) moves back in the housing ( 12 ) unbraked and thus recoil-free in a return motion travel (x) which is defined and limited by a return motion damper ( 32 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention concerns an automatically firing weapon, in particular for caseless ammunition.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

It is known that an automatically firing weapon has an effect due to recoil forces on operation of the weapon and the swing movement of the barrel and consequently involves a relatively great scatter in respect of the pattern of hits. In addition, automatic weapons have a tendency to rear up against the restraint forces (lashing down), that is to say the weapon goes up from one shot to another. The attempt is made to counteract the influence of the stepwise rearing movement of the weapon by means of automatic or rifleman-governed shot number limiters. That, however, is only limitedly possible. Therefore long bursts of fire are usual, also by virtue of the kick factor of the rifleman. Long bursts of fire are generally a waste of ammunition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of those factors the object of the invention is to provide an automatically firing weapon of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, having an improved hit probability, so that it is possible to achieve a saving of ammunition.

In accordance with the invention that object is attained by the feature in that the weapon is linearly movably guided in a housing in an axially longitudinal direction of the weapon. Consequently, during a burst of firing, the weapon moves back unbraked within the housing in a return motion of travel (x) which is defined and limited by a return motion damper. Preferred configurations and developments of the automatic weapon according to the invention are characterised in the dependent claims.

With the automatically firing weapon according to the invention, in particular for caseless ammunition, recoil-free bursts of fire up to for example 10 shots, can be delivered—governed by the possible high firing rate—. In that respect the firing rate can be for example 2000 to 3000 rounds/minute.

In accordance with the invention while firing shots the weapon moves back in a housing in the axial longitudinal direction of the weapon in unbraked and linearly movably guided fashion so that while the weapon is being fired recoil forces on the housing and the rifleman are avoided. After the last round of the respective burst of fire has been fired the weapon runs up against a return motion damper. In the burst of fire which is initially recoil-free on the weapon receiving means, that is to say the housing, the effects on the weapon scatter characteristics, that is to say on the scatter in respect of the pattern of hits, are markedly less than in the case of a known automatically firing weapon.

Due to the bursts of firing which are limited in terms of the number of shots, the return motion damper, that is to say the weapon return motion damping, at the end of a firing phase, can advantageously be markedly longer and softer. That has an advantageous effect on the weapon mounting means. Less hard impacts permit a smaller and lighter weapon mounting means.

The soft, longer weapon damping travel can advantageously be managed in respect of time without any problem by virtue of the relatively long weapon return motion distance.

A rifleman using the automatically firing weapon according to the invention can deliver a fresh targeted burst of fire at a maximum every 1 to 1.5 seconds—governed by a shot number limiter, that is to say a volley limiter—. The effective firing rate of a weapon system according to the invention is then for example of the order of magnitude of 150 to 500 rounds/minute. That advantageously affords a marked saving in ammunition, in particular for caseless ammunition, in comparison with a conventional, automatically firing weapon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details, features and advantages will be apparent from the description hereinafter of an embodiment by way of example illustrated in the drawing of the automatically firing weapon according to the invention, in particular for caseless ammunition.

FIG. 1 shows a view in longitudinal section of the weapon according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 shows a view in cross-section through the weapon of FIG. 1 taken along section line II-II.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the automatically firing weapon 10 according to the invention, wherein the weapon 10 is linearly movably guided in a housing 12 in the axial longitudinal direction.

Reference numeral 14 identifies a barrel of the weapon 10.

Provided on the weapon 10 at axial spacings from each other are slide shoes 16, 18 and 20. The slide shoe 16 is provided for example between the weapon 10 and the barrel 14. The slide shoes 18 and 20 are axially spaced from the slide shoe 16 in order to ensure optimum guide properties.

The slide shoes 16 and 18 are provided linearly movably in guides 22 and the slide shoe 20 is linearly movable in a guide 24. The guide 24 is formed by a guide groove 28 provided in the housing 12. The guides 22 are formed by slide rails 30.

The slide shoe 16 between the weapon 10 and the barrel 14 can be of a similar configuration to the slide shoes 18 and 20 and can be guided in corresponding guides 22 and 24.

During a burst of shots the weapon 10 with the barrel 14 moves back in the housing 12 in an unbraked fashion over a return motion travel x which is defined and limited by a return motion damper 32. The return motion damper 32 has a braking element 34 and a spring element 36. The braking element 34 is provided adjoining the guides 22 and 24 at the rear side thereof. The spring element 36 is arranged in a blind recess 38 of the housing 12.

A return motion-dependent shot number limiter 40 is additionally provided on the weapon housing 12.

The weapon 10 has an ammunition feed device 42 by which the number of shots in a burst of firing can be set.

In FIG. 1 x1 denotes the return motion travel of a first shot, x2 denotes the return motion travel of a second shot subsequent to the first shot and x3 denotes the return motion travel of the weapon 10 of a third shot subsequent to the second shot. The recoil-free weapon return motion travel x is the total of x1+x2+x3.

The foregoing description applies in respect of a burst of firing involving three shots. In quite general terms the following applies in relation to the recoil-free weapon return motion travel: x=Σ×i with i=1 to n.

LIST Of REFERENCES

-   10 automatically firing weapon -   12 housing (for 10) -   14 barrel (of 10) -   16 slide shoe (on 10) -   18 slide shoe (on 10) -   20 slide shoe (on 10) -   22 guide (for 16, 18) -   24 guide (for 20) -   28 guide groove (in 26 for 20) -   30 slide rail (of 22 for 16, 18) -   32 return motion damper (for 10 in 12) -   34 braking element (of 32) -   36 spring element (for 34) -   38 blind recess (in 12 for 32) -   40 shot number limiter (of 10) -   42 ammunition feed device (of 10) 

1. An automatically firing weapon, in particular for caseless ammunition, wherein the weapon (10) is linearly movably guided in a housing (12) in an axial longitudinal direction of the weapon, whereby during a burst of firing the weapon (10) moves back unbraked in the housing (12) in a return motion travel (x) which is defined and limited by a return motion damper (32).
 2. A weapon according to claim 1, wherein provided on the weapon (10) in mutually axially spaced relationship are slide shoes (16, 18, 20) which are linearly movably guided in guides (22, 24) in the housing (12).
 3. A weapon according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the guides (24) is formed by a guide groove (28) provided in the housing (12).
 4. A weapon according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the guides (22) is formed by a slide rail (30) provided in the housing (12).
 5. A weapon according to claim 1, wherein the return motion damper (32) has a spring braking element (34).
 6. A weapon according to claim 1, wherein a shot number limiter (40) is provided in proximity to and upstream of the return motion damper (32) in the direction of return motion of the weapon (10).
 7. A weapon according to claim 1, wherein the weapon (10) has an ammunition feed device (42) for setting the number of shots in a burst of firing. 